Photo: All photos courtesy of Santa Clara Valley Detectives
Written By: Robert L. McCullough
Ventura County, Ca. January 6, 2023 – “Julie” a pet Umbrella Cockatoo was apparently minding her own business at Ventura County’s Steckel Park Bird Aviary on the night of January 4, 2023 when, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Det. Sgt, Will Hollowell, “an unknown suspect” broke into her cage and stole the critter.
It was just after 3:00 a.m. on that date when aviary caretakers on their nightly maintenance rounds discovered the bird’s empty cage and evidence that someone had “cut the habitat wire.” After quickly notifying both The Santa Clara Station Patrol Division of the VCSD as sell as posting the news on “several social media platforms,” just hour’s later Ventura County Crime Stoppers was contacted by “an anonymous party.”
The anonymous tipster was promptly put into contact with Santa Clara Valley Detective Bureau personnel and provided “valuable information” leading to the identification of 35-year-old Santa Paula resident Michael Wear as the likely suspect. Later that day, detectives made contact with Wear at his residence and obtained “evidence indicating Wear had stolen the Cockatoo.”
The purloined bird was reportedly held at the residence of “an acquaintance of Wear” and detectives subsequently “rescued the Cockatoo” and returned it to the Steckel Park Aviary.
Five days later, a felony arrest warrant was issued for Wear and he was taken into custody on January 10th, whereupon he was transported to Ventura County Jail and booked on charges of felony grand theft and grand theft of domestic fowl with his bail set at $10,000.
